Second Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Built in the Greek Revival style, this church at 36 Vassar Street in Poughkeepsie is a rectangular building with a low gabled roof, wooden flush-board walls with pilasters, and a brick base. A pedimented portico with four heavy wood Doric columns marks the east facade, and stained glass windows line the long sides. The design is described as a local interpretation of plans in a builders' guide published in 1833. The site was sold in 1838 by the Vassar family to a group of Presbyterian dissenters, later passed to a Congregational church, and eventually to a Jewish congregation, when the building was known as the Vassar Temple. An early tower has since been removed. Few Greek Revival buildings survive in Poughkeepsie because many were cleared for the North/South Arterial, which adds to the importance of this example. It remains in religious use.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a vigorous local example of the Greek Revival style, based on designs from an 1833 builders' guide. Few Greek Revival buildings remain in Poughkeepsie because many were demolished for the North/South Arterial. The site also has a layered history of congregations, including use as a synagogue known as the Vassar Temple.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 72000836, listed January 20, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 36 Vassar St., Poughkeepsie |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | January 20, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000836 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent and unaltered condition, occupied and in religious use; the church was being scraped and painted in 1971. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Mill Street-North Clover Street Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 41.70643, -73.93107 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 72000836.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2263779
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.